Piston-ring expander



C. B. SNIDER PISTON RING EXPANDER Filed Oct. 30. 1923 FIG.8. I2 -1a I III M Ja rwP llll of the tubular members.

Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

CLINT B. SNIDER, 033 INDEPENDENCE, KAId'SAS PISTON-RING EXPANDER.

Application filed. October 30, 1823. Serial No. 671,695.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINT B. Snmnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Independence, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piston-Ring Expanders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto piston ring expanders of the type referred to in the application of Clint B. Snider, filed April 14, 1923, Serial No. 632,052 wherein the ring expander devices are capable of being associated with any standard type of piston without in any manner altering the original construction or designthereof,-the device disclosed in this application embodying improvements in the art with particuar reference to the application above identi- In piston ring expanders of the type disclosed herein, tubular members extending across the piston inwardly of the hollow head thereof with the ends terminating at the bases of the grooves that receive the resilient piston rings, openings being bored in the piston wall in line with the grooves to accommodate the mounting of the ends The primary ohthe invention is to provide a rigid mounting for the ends of the tubular members to eliminate vibration thereof during use of the piston that is accomplished by outwardly flaring the opening receiving the ends of the tubular members with an outward swaging of the ends of the tubular members to form a substantially interlocking connection between the tubular members and the walls of the piston.

A further object of the invention is to provide bracing strap for the tubular members intermediate the ends thereof, the attaching means for the bracing strap being adjustable to compensate for'wear and insure the rigid mounting of the tubular members at all times.

lVith the above and other objects in view as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is aside elevational view,

ject of partly shown'in section of a standard type of piston equipped with the piston ring expand- ?rs and the special mounting devices there- Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the piston showing the tubular guide for the ring expanding plunger rod and the centrally positioned bracing straps therefor. Figure 3 is a side elevational view taken at a different angle from the showing in Fig. 1 illustrating the adjustable screw stud mounting for the ends of the bracing strap,

Figure dis a. detail sectional view showing the outwardly flared opening in the side wall of the piston with the initial position of the tubular guide member for the piston "ing expander plunger rod, and

Figureti is a detail sectional view, similar to Fig. 4 showing theouter end of the tubular guide member swaged outwardly for locking engagement with the flaredopening in the wall of the piston. Q

The preferred embodiment of the inven-' tion as illustrated in the accompanying drawing includes a pistonl of-a standard type of construction having the usual oppositely positioned internal bearings 2 for mounting upon the upper end of a piston with annular grooves 3 formed in the pe ripheral wall of the piston for the reception of resilient split piston rings 4.

As shown in detail in Fig. 4c, the bottom wall 3 of the piston ring grooves 3 is pro vided with a plurality of spaced outwardly flared openings 5 extending completely through the side walls of the piston. A plurality of tubular guide members 6 are disposedinteriorly of the piston 1 and have the ends thereof extending into the outwardly flared openings 5, the upper sides of the intersecting portions of the tubular guide members 6 contacting the lower edge of the rib 7 depending from the head 1 of the. piston. It is to be understood that any num ber of the tubular guide members 6 may be employed and the same are rigidly supported in the piston by outwardly swaging the outer ends thereof as at 5 into binding engagement with the walls of the outwardly flared opening 5 thereby forming a substantially interlocking connection between the tubular guide members and the side walls of the piston to support the guide members in a rigid condition to be so held against all vibratory movemei ts thereof. The ring expander devices, each includes a plunger ro 8 slidable in the outer end of each tubular guide member end. carrying "upon the outer end thereof an arcuate plunger head 9 disposed in the inner side of the annular piston ring groove 3 and in engagement with the inner face of the ring 4-, the plunger rods 8 being normally forced outwardly by coil springs 10 housed within the tubular guide members inwardly of said plunger rods as SllQ Wllln 1. V,

bracethe tubular 'guide members 6 intermediate their ends, a strap 11 is positioned adjacentrthe lower sides of the tubular, members in engagement there- 1 "thlind screw "stud 12 passing through opposite en of the strap 11 fare tlnf'eaded into the head 1 of the piston, tightening of the ism-awe 12 feaiis'ing the "strap 7.1 to hold the/tub, lar guide "members into it substantially binding engagement Wilih the depend cross 'rib 7 thereby insuring a rigid mounting of the tubular fguide members at fidintsthereof intermediate the ends.

M It believed that the construotion an d op eration of the device will be fully understood from the above'detail description, and While tli ie is herein shown and deserihed the prerained embodimentof thepres'ent invention, it neyertheless tobe understood that minor changes be made therein without departing from thespiritend scope of the inventionas claimed.

.l/Vhatisclaimed as new is:

1. In a piston ring expander, the combination With a piston having annular grooves therein for the reception of expansibie pis ton rings and having openings in the bottom Walls of the ring receivinggrooves, of tubular guide members extending transversely oi the piston and seated at their ends in the openings, a strap adjustably connected to the head of the piston and braeing the tubular guide members intermediate their ends and tensioned plunger ex )anders for the piston ring slidable in the outer ends of the guides in engagement with the ring.

2. in a piston ring expander, the combination with a piston having" annular grooves therein for the reception of expansible piston rings and having openings in the bottom Walls of the ring receiving grooves, of tubular guide members extending); transversely of the piston and seated at their ends in th openings, a V strep edjustably connected in the head of the piston and bracing the tubu- 5 de members intermediate their ends, tensioned plunger e'Xpandei-s for the piston ring slideble in the outer ends of the guides in engagement with the ring, and an internal transverse rib {:lepending from he heed of the piston engaged by the upper-sides or th tubular guide members for bracing ant spacing the guide members from the head oi; the piston,

in testimony whereof I my ture.

signa CLINT B. SNIDER. 

